Supporting device for bubble caps



2 Shets-Sheet 1 5 Z Z M W m 3 m 2 2 h G O M m B Z .m v 2U H m 5 ..7 D Z a: i/%/ fl G v a; 1/1 W 5 I c 2. 0%. W. 5 m

mm mm;

Jan. 11, 1944, H. c. GLITSCH SUPPORTING DEVICES FOR BUBBLE CAPS Filed June 22, 1942 Jan. 11, 1944. H. c. GLITSCH 2,338,923

SUPPORTING DEVICES FOR BUBBLE CAPS Filed June 22, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet Hans C. Glitsch Patented Jan. 11, 1944 SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR BUBBLE CAPS Hans C. Glitsch, Dallas, Tex asslgnor to Fritz W. Glitsch & Sons, Dallas, Ten, a partnership consisting of Fritz W. Glitsch, Sr., Fritz W- Glitsch, In, and Hans C. Giitsch Application June 22, 1942, Serial No. 447,927

14 Claims. (Cl. 261-114) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in hold down and supporting devices.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved device which is adapted to be mounted in the tray or deck of a bubble tower, or other apparatus, for supporting a bubble cap over the usual gas escape opening in said tray or deck.

An important object of the invention is to provide an improved hold down and supporting device which is removably mounted in the usual gas escape or outlet opening in the bubble tray or deck, and which is constructed so that it may be readily mounted within the opening or removed irom said opening from a position above the tray, whereby the mounting and removal of said device is facilitated.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved hold down and supporting device for bubble caps which is locked in its mounted position against displacement in either direction, whereby it is self-supporting and the necessity of supplying auxiliary supports to maintain the device in position until the bubble cap is actually secured thereto, is eliminated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved device, of the character described, which includes a transversely extending support having angularly disposed flexible arms, the ends of said arms and support co-acting with the marginal edge portions of the opening in which the device is mounted to removably support said device within said opening; the structure permitting the insertion and removal of the device within the opening from a position above the deck or tray, from which position said openings are readily accessible and mounting and dismounting of the device is facilitated.

A further object oi. the invention is to provide an improved device,-of the character described, wherein the resilient arms or lugs are flexed to permit insertion of the device into-the opening and are then permitted to return to 'a normal position to co-act with the marginal portions of the opening to lock the device in its supported position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved hold down and supporting device ior bubble caps which is of a single unitary construction, being extremely simple, and which lends itself to use with openings of various shapes.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter I described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a portion of a bubble tray or deck, showing the supporting device, constructed in accordance with the invention, mounted in one of the openings in said deck,

Figure 2 is an enlarged isometric view of the device,

Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken through one of the openings in the tray or deck and illustrating the device being inserted therein,

Figure 4 is a view, similar to Figure 3, after the device has been inserted through the opening and prior to its actual mounting,

Figure 5 is an isometric view of the supporting device in its locked position within the opening,

Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view thereof,

Figure '7 is a transverse, vertical sectional view of the supporting device mounted within the opening, and having a bubble cap mounted thereon,

Figure 8 is a plan view, similar to Figure 6, showing the device mounted in a hexagonal opening, and

Figures 9 to 11 are plan views, illustrating modifications of the invention which are applicable to square, triangular and oval-shaped openings, respectively.

In the drawings, the numeral l0 designates a bubble tray or deck which, as is well known, is mounted within a bubble tank or tower (not shown). The trays are mounted in superposed relation and each tray is formed with a plurality of gas escapes or outlet openings i I which are spaced throughout the surface oi the tray or deck. As illustrated, the deck is formed of a relatively thin sheet of material, such as stainless steel and each opening is preferably surrounded by an upstanding flange I! which is formed by upsetting that portion of the tray immediately surrounding the opening. A bubble cap A is supported above each opening ii and the invention herein resides in the particular hold down and supporting device or spider B which is employed for supporting and securing the bubble cap in proper position.

The device B includes a transversely extend-' ing bar II which is formed with outwardly extending lugs ll at the lower portion of its ends and obviously, the upper edge of. each lug ll provid'es a horizontally extending shoulder ii. The lower corners oi the lug ii may be rounded 02 at IS, while the upper corners of the transverse bar '13 may be rounded, as shown at H, to facilitate insertion of the device B into the opening I i iAn upwardly extending rod l8 has its lower portion bifurcated and engaged over thecentral portion of the transverse bar l3, the bifurcated portion being welded or otherwise secured to the bar, as is clearly shown in Figure 2. The upper end of the rod is screw threaded at 18 and is adapted to receive the bubble cap A as will be hereinafter described.

The transverse bar i3 is of substantially the same length as the diameter of the opening ii, whereby when said her is within the opening, the lugs H at the lower end thereof will engage beneath the underside of the deck or tray I. On"- wardly extending angular arms 2:; are secured to opposite sides oi the bar 53 and these arms are positioned off center of the bar. Each arm 20 is constructed of spring steel, or other similar material, whereby it is inherently resilient or flexible within certain limits and normally, the arm 28 extends at a right angle to the bar 53. The outer end of each arm as is formed with a iug M which is located at the upper end of said arm, and which is preferably integral therewith. The lower edge of each lug iii extends horizontai iv to provide a shouider while the upper edge of each lug N is rounded as indicated at 23 to faciiitate insertion of the device 13 into the opening. its is clearly shown in Figure 2, the height of the arms B20 is less than the height of the bar i3 and said arms are disposed at suhstantiaily mid-height of said bar. The arms are so positioned that when the bar 3 is within the opening it and the shoulders 15 formed by the upper edges of the lugs it are engaging the underside of the tray or deal; id, the horizontally extending lower edges 2'22 of the arms are adapted to engage the upper edge of the annular flange it which surrounds said opening H. Thus, when the device is in position within the opening (Figure 5) it is locked against displacement in either direction, upward movement being prevented by the shoulders i t and downward movement being prevented by the shoulders 22 of the lug 38.

In inserting the device into the opening of the tray or deck it, the operator grasps the upwardiy extending rod and inserts the bar E3 in the manner shown in Figure 3; that is the bar is tilted so as to be readily ins rtabie through the opening from a position a e the tray. After the bar it has been moved '5 rough the opening, the device is tilted back to vertical position, as is clearly shown in Figure l. As has been explained, the iength of the supporting bar i3 is substantially equal to the diameter of the opening 1 i and the operator then moves the entire device upwardly so that the bar moves into the opening, the rounded upper end or said her facilitating such movement.

As upward movement of the device B through the opening H is continued the rounded upper ends 23 of the lugs 21 strike the marginal edges 0* the opening H and due to these rounded surfaces, a cam action between said edges and the edge of the opening occurs, with the result that the arms 20 are flexed or moved inwardly toward the center of the opening, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 5. Such flexing of the arms 20 permits a continued upward movement of the device B, whereby the lugs 2i move upwardly through said opening. A soon as the lugs 23 iii) aasaoae have cleared the upper edge of the annular flange 12 which surrounds the opening, the inherent resiliency or flexibility of the arms causes them to return to their normal positions which is at substantially a right angle to the central supporting bar 13. Such return of the arms 20 to a normal position moves the lugs 2! into an overhanging position above the annular flange I2, whereby the shoulders 22 formed by the lowor edges of the lugs 24 engage the upper edge of saidflange. By this time, the shoulders 15 formed by the upper ends of the lugs M on th central bar i3 have engaged the underside of the tray or deck I 0 and in this position, the device is locked against movement in either direction within the opening M.

It will be evident that the device may be quick- 1y and easily mounted within the opening it from a position above the tray and only a single operator is required to mount the device, Further, after the said device is in position within the opening, it is self-supporting and is locked against movement in either direction, whereby the use of auxiliary supports to maintain said device in position until-the bubble cap A is attached thereto, are eliminated. When it is desired to remove the device, it is only necessary to manually flex or deflect the outwardly extending arms 20 to the position shown in Figure 6, after which downward movement and removal of the device is possible. Although it is desirable that the device be inserted into the opening from a position above the tray, it is evident that, if desired, it could be inserted from below the tray.

After the device is in position within the opening 5 E, the bubble cap assembly A may be readily mountedon the upstanding rod It. The usual assembly A includes a riser it which surrounds the flange 52 and which is either separate from and rests upon the deck or tray H1, or is formed integral with said deck. After the riser 2% is in position the bubble cap 25 is placed thereover and, this can is provided with an alining spider engages the upper edge of the riser and which axially aligns the cap thereon. The cap has a central opening 21 through which the up-- per screw-threaded end is of the rod l8 extends and a nut 28 threads onto the end l9 to hold the bubble cap in proper position. It might be noted i that one particular type of bubble cap assembly has been shown and described but the invention is not to be limited to this paiticular assembly, as any desired bubble cap construction may be employed in combination with the supporting device illustrated, the opening 1 I within which the device B is inserted, is shown as surrounded by an annular upstanding flange l2. However, this flange is not essential to the invention, for obviously it could be entirely eliminated. In such instance, the shoulder 22 formed by the lower edge of each lug 2|, would rest directly on the upeer surface of the tray or deck and would c0- act with that portion of the tray immediately surrounding the opening H. Thus, if the flange i2 is eliminated, the shoulders 15 formed by the upper edges of the lugs 14 on the supporting bar would engage the underside of the tray in the same manner, while the shoulders 2-2 of the lugs 21! would engage the upper or top side of said tray, rather than the upper edge of the flange. It is pointed out that this arrangement would be employed if the riser is integral with the tray instead of separate therefrom, as is illustrated.

The device is illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 as aesaoaa inserted within a circular opening II, but the ure 8; the device is illustrated as mounted within a hexagonal opening Ila. The construction of this device is substantially the same as that shown in Figures 1 to '7, with the possible exception that the arms 2|! might vary in length so as to properly engage the marginal edge portions of the hexagonal opening.

In Figure" 9, the device is illustrated as applied to a square opening, lib. In this instance, the central support It extends diagonally acrossthe square opening and the arms are of a length to properly engage the sides of said opening.

In Figure 10, a modified form of the invention is shown applied to the opening ilc, which isof a triangular shape. In this form, a central supporting bar l3a extends from the apex to the base of the triangle formed by the opening and an upstanding rod lad is secured to the bar Isa. outwardly extending arms 20a, which are identical in construction to the arms 20 of the first form, except for their length, are secured to opposite sides of the bar l3a, and extend outwardly therefrom at substantially a right angle. The lugs 2 I a at the outer end of said arms, are adapted to engage over the inclined sides of the triangular shaped opening llc, while the lugs Ila of'the central bar I3a engage the underside of the tray or deck. Manifestly, the device functions in identically the same manner as the first form and is substantially the same in construction except for size and location of the parts.

In Figure 11, the hold down and supporting device is illustrated as mounted in an oval shaped opening lld. In this instance, a central supporting bar l3b extends transversely across the opening and is provided with lugs Mb at its ends, which lugs engage beneath the tray or deck. The ends on the supporting bar |3b are turned outwardly to form verticalflanges l3'c and these flanges abut the side wall of the opening ild. Flexible arms 2012 are secured to the bar I3b and extend outwardly therefrom at a suitable angle so as to permit the lugs 2lb at the outer ends of said arms to overhang the marginal edge Dortions of the tray adjacent the opening lid. The arms 20b are inherently flexible so as to permit insertion of the device in the manner heretofore described. The central bar It!) is provided with an upstanding rod I8b for supporting a bubble cap (not shown).

In all forms of the invention, the device is readily insertable, either from above or below the any desired type of support for the bubble cap may be substituted for said rod. The various parts of the device'iiave been illustrated as welded to each other, and although this is the preferable method of assembly, the parts may be bolted, riveted or otherwise secured.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a .deck having an opening therein, of a hold down and supporting device insertable within said opening including, a transverse supporting element having its ends shouldered and arranged to engage the underside of the deck to limit upward movement of the element through the opening, and outwardly extending members secured to the element and having their outer ends overhanging the arginal edge portions of the deck surrounding the opening to limit downward movement of the device through the opening, whereby said device is mounted against movement in either direction within the opening, the members extending outwardly at an angle relative to said element.

2. The combination with a deck plate having an opening therein of a hold down and supporting spider including, a plurality of arms having their ends adapted to engage the marginal pertions of the plate surrounding the opening, certain of said arms engaging the underside of said plate and the remainder of said arms engaging the top of the plate, whereby the spider is mounted within the opening and is locked against displacement in either direction, the arms project ing outwardly at an angle in a horizontal place relative to each other.

3. A device of the character described, adapted to be mounted in the opening of a bubble tray including, a transversely extending bar having a shoulder at each extremity thereof for engaging the underside of the tray when the bar extends transversely across said opening, and a pair of arms, one on each side of said bar and projecting outwardly therefrom, each bar having a shoulder at its outer end adapted to rest upon the mar ginalportion of the tray surrounding said opening, whereby the device is held against displace-- ment in either direction within said opening.

4. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said arms are flexible within certain limits and also wherein the normal position of said arms is such that the outer ends thereof-engage the tray, flexing of the arms moving said outer ends thereof out of alinement with the tray to permit inser- {ion of and removal of the device from the open- 5. A hold down and supporting spider of the character described including, a central supporting bar adapted to extend transversely across an opening within a bubble tray, lugs at the extremities of the bar disposed at the lower portion thereof and arranged to engage the underside of the tray adjacent said opening, laterally extending arms secured to the bar and projecting outwardly therefrom, and a lug on the outer end of 7 each arm adapted to overhang the tray adjacent saidopening, the lugs on said arms and bar acting to lock the spider in position within the opening.

6. A spider as set forth in claim 5, with an upstanding rod secured to the central bar for coacting with a bubble cap to secure the same in position on the tray above said opening.

7."A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the arms normally project outwardly at substantially a right angle to the bar and are disposed immediately opposite each other in the same vertical'plane.

9. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the arms normally project outwardly at an acute angle with respect to the surface of the bar.

10. The combination with a bubble cap assembly which comprises a bubble cap and riser collar, of a hold down and supporting device adapted to be mounted within the opening of a, bubble tray, said device including, a plurality of arms adapted to releasably engage the marginal portions of the tray surrounding the opening, and an upstanding support secured to the arms for receiving the cap to support said cap in position over the opening when said device is mounted within said opening, certain of said arms being flexible so that the outer ends thereof may be moved out of alinement with the marginal portions of said tray to permit insertion and removal of the device from the opening.

11. The combinationwith a bubble tray having an opening therein and having that portion of the tray surrounding said opening upset to form an annular flange, of a hold down and supporting spider including, a central bar adapted to extend across the opening and having means at its extremities for engaging the underside of the tray adjacent said opening to limit upward movement of the bar with the opening, arms secured to the bar and projecting outwardly at an angle therefrom, and means at the outer ends of said arms for overhanging and engaging the upper edge of the annular flange for preventing downward displacement of the device through said opening.

12. The combination with a deck having an opening therein of a hold down and supporting device insertable within the opening including, a transverse supporting element having its ends shouldered and arranged to engage the underside oi the deck to limit upward movement of the element through said opening, and outwardly aaaspas extending members secured to the element and having their outer-ends overhanging the marginal edge portions or said deck surrounding the opening to limit downward movement oi the device through said opening, whereby said device is mounted against movement in either direction within the opening, the members being capable of flexing to permit insertion and removal of the device from said opening.

13. The combination with a deck plate having an opening therein oi a hold down and supporting spider including, a plurality of arms having their ends adapted to engage the marginal portions of the plate surrounding the opening, certain of said arms engaging the underside of said plate and the remainder 0! said arms engaging the top 01 the plate, whereby the spider is mounted within said opening and is locked against displacement in either direction, certain 01 the arms being flexible so that the same may undergo flexing to permit insertion and removal of said spider from the opening.

14. A hold down and supporting spider oi the character described including, a central supporting bar adapted to extend transversely across an opening within a bubble tray, lugs at the extremities of the bar disposed at the lower portion thereof and adapted to engage the underside of the tray adjacent the opening, laterally extending arms secured to said bar and projecting outwardly therefrom, and a lug on the outer end oi each arm adapted to overhang said tray adjacent said opening, the lugs on said arms and bar acting to lock the spider in position within the opening; the arms being flexible so that the lugs thereof may be moved out of overhanging relationship relative to said tray to permit insertion and removal of said spider from said opening.

HANS C. GLITSCH. 

